B.A. in Philosophy and Religion, Major in Philosophy
We prepare graduates to meet a rapidly changing world. Students study ancient and contemporary philosophers as they engage in rigorous debate, ask the big questions and sharpen their critical thinking skills. Discovery also occurs when students study problems arising in contemporary movements such as analytic philosophy, existentialism and American philosophy. Prepare to be introduced to the major subdivisions of philosophy, including logic, ethics, aesthetics, philosophy and law, philosophy of science and philosophy of religion.
The major in Philosophy empowers you to analyze diverse worldviews and value systems. In a world that is increasingly pluralistic, ideologically driven and globally connected, skills in critical thinking and cross-cultural understanding are more important than ever. Our students apply this degree to a wide variety of career fields, including such diverse areas as medicine, law, library science, law enforcement, missionary work and great adventures in the Peace Corps.
Students choose from two concentrations: general philosophy and interdisciplinary philosophy. The interdisciplinary concentration allows students to count relevant courses in another field toward the major and is a particularly good fit for students choosing philosophy as a second major.
Intakes
- Jan
- June
- Aug
Application Processing Time in Days: 30
Minimum English Language Requirements
| English Level Description | IELTS (1.0 -9.0) | TOEFL IBT (0-120) | TOEFL CBT (0-300) | PTE (10-90) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expert | 9 | 120 | 297-300 | 86-90 | |
| Very Good | 8.5 | 115-119 | 280-293 | 83-86 | |
| Very Good | 8 | 110-114 | 270-280 | 79-83 | |
| Good | 7.5 | 102-109 | 253-267 | 73-79 | |
| Good | 7 | 94-101 | 240-253 | 65-73 | |
| Competent | 6.5 | 79-93 | 213-233 | 58-65 | |
| Competent | 6 | 60-78 | 170-210 | 50-58 | |
| Modest | 5.5 | 46-59 | 133-210 | 43-50 | |
| Modest | 5 | 35-45 | 107-133 | 36-43 | |
| Limited | 4 | 32-34 | 97-103 | 30-36 | |
| Extremely Limited | < 4 | < 31 | < 93 | < 30 |
Job Opportunity Potential
Strengths that help job opportunity potential
Here are things about JMU that boost the likelihood of good job outcomes:
High “knowledge rate” / outcome tracking
- JMU tracks where their graduates are, which shows transparency and lets them improve based on feedback.
Strong professional / licensure programs
- For fields that require certification or licensure (nursing, teaching, speech pathology, occupational therapy etc.), JMU shows excellent performance
Internship / experiential learning
- JMU offers internships, on-campus interview opportunities, career fairs, etc. Its University Career Center helps students access large job/internship databases and prepares them (resume / interviews) for the job market
Strong regional network and demand
- Being in Virginia, with many government, education, health care, and non-profit institutions in and around Northern Virginia / DC / Maryland, gives graduates good potential, especially in public service, teaching, healthcare, etc. Also, shortages in some fields (like K-12 teachers, nursing) in Virginia mean more opportunity.
Alumni satisfaction, retention, and value
- Students and alumni report high satisfaction; many programs ranked well in “undergraduate teaching” etc.
PSW Opportunity
Post-Study Work visa or permit, allowing international students on F-1 visas to work in the US after completing their studies, typically through Optional Practical Training (OPT).
Eligibility:
To be eligible for OPT, students must have been enrolled full-time in a US educational institution for at least one academic year and be seeking work related to their major.
Duration:
Students can apply for up to 12 months of OPT, either before they finish their studies (pre-completion) or after graduation (post-completion).
STEM OPT:
Students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields can apply for an extended OPT period of up to 24 months.
Contact our PSA counselor for more information
Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria
Freshman Requirements (India)
In the Indian system: a minimum average of 60 on a 100 point grading scale. Or the equivalent in the U.S. system: a 'B' average or a 3.00 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.00 GPA grading scale.
English Language Requirement for Nonnative Speakers
- Proof of English language proficiency in ONE of the following ways:
- Minimum standardized test score:
- Note: Please specify the JMU CEEB code (005392) on the testing form. Test scores must be sent directly from the testing agency to JMU. Student copies will not be accepted.
- IELTS minimum score of 6.5
- GTEC CBT minimum score of 1210
- Duolingo English Test minimum score of 105
- Pearson PTE Academic minimum score of 58
- TOEFL mimimum score of 81 (internet-based test)
- SAT minimum score of 500 on the Evidenced Based Reading and Writing Portion of SAT exam
- Cambridge English Exam - Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) minimum score of 176, CEFR level
- Submission of a General Certificate of Secondary Education or General Certificate of Education "O" level in English language.
- Possession of an American associate's or bachelor's degree equivalent from an accredited institution located in a country where English is the native language.
- Graduation from an accredited high school in a native English-speaking country where the applicant has resided for at least four years.
- Course Type: Full Time
- Course Level: Bachelors/UG Degree
- Duration: 04 Year
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Total Tuition Fee:
135224 USD
Average Cost of Living: 14000 USD /year
Application Fee: 70 USD